Journal bearing



E. S. PEARCE JOURNAL BEARING Oct. 30, 1945.

Original Filed June 2 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l oct. 3o, 1945.

original Filed June 2, 1942 E. S. PEARCE JOURNAL BEARING s sheets-sheet2 l ATToRNEYs ci 3 i945 E. s. PEARCE 2,387,807 n y JOURNAL BEARINGvoriginal Filed June 2, 1942 5 sheets-sheet :s

',v e, f, #zr ZW ATTORNEYS Patented ocr. 3o, 1945 UNITED vSTATES PATENTOFFICE JOURNAL BEARING Edwin S. Pearce, Indianapolis, Ind.

Original application June 2, 1942, Serial No.-

445,418. Divided and this application March 31, 1944, Serial No. 528,883

2 Claims.

A antimony which have heretofore gone into the manufactureof bearings ofthe type in question; to improve the strength of the bearing and itsability to withstand the stress and wear of service as well as toincrease its resistance to the destructive effects of heat; to provide astructure which combines the best characteristics of ferrous as well asof non-ferrous metals; to provide a bearing which has an increasedmargin of oper'- ating safety; to provide a bearing which may berelatively cheaply manufactured, easily replaced or renewed as well asone which is interchangeable with prevailing structures; to provide (ina bearing of the character described) a structural backing or strengthmember l"which is capable of functioning` as an adapter for use withseparable or readily renewable or replaceable bearing metal parts orinserts whereby any one of several types of operational characteristicscan be employed as may best meet the demands of any particular service;to prqyide (in connection with the object last recite fifa structure inwhich the bearing part or insert is kept in its proper place by meanswhich lie outside the major load supporting area of the bearing wherebycertain difliculties heretofore encountered incomposite bearings areentirely overcome; to provide a structure having an adapter or backingme ber and a bearing metal insert as described 1n which the insert isnot positively interlocked with the adapter or backing member so as tobecome, in effect, an integral part thereof asA has been characteristicof composite bearings heretofore used in the art, but rather one whereinthe bearing insert is held in place by means which permit readyseparation of the two parts so that the insert can be detached andrenewed at the point or place of application without the necessity ofsending the bearing assembly to the shop; to provide a bearing having anadapter or backing member and a bearing metal insert, as described,wherein the insert is not subject to any distortion which 4mightotherwise occur due to the difference in the coeihcient of expansionbetween the material of the backing member and the material of theinsert; to provide a bearing having a backing or adapter member intowhich an insert can be fitted so as to yield suitable passages forcirculating the oil from one side of the journal to the other side andthis by means of a simple casting without the necessity of extensive orexpensive machine work; and, in general, to materially improve theoperational characteristics of railway crown journal bearings, While atthe same time lowering their cost, increasing their strength andsimplifying their maintenance.

The invention is illustrated in preferred form in the accompanyingdrawings wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through ajournal box of a railway vehicle showing my improved bearing structureapplied therein, the section being taken approximately as indicated bythe line I I in Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section through a journal box equippedwith my invention, the section being taken approximately as indicated bythe line 2 2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a plan view of my improved bearins;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2; v

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 5. of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the bearing metal insert of my invention;

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Figure 8.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings the usual journal I0 on the end ofthe car axle II is shown as projecting into the car or journal box I2 ina, manner Well understood in this art. Immediately beneath the top ofthe box I3 is the customary so-called wedge member I4 between which andthe journal I0 is located the improved crown journal bearing of thepresentinvention.

The bearing comprises a structural backing or strength member I5, aseparable bearing metal insert I6 and a Babbitt metal lining I1. Thestrength or backing member constitutes an adapter as will more fullyappear hereinafter, and is preferably composed of steel or other metalor alloy having relatively great strength and high melting point. Thegeneral shape of this backing or adapter member and the configuration ofits top surface or back is, preferably, substantially the same as thatof the ordinary bearing familiar in this art, and it will be seen thatit cooperates with the wedge I4 so as to provide a. slight space I8 ateach Side between the inclined surface I9 of the bearing and theadjacent inclined surface 20 of the wedge. v

The load is transmitted through the top of the box to the central highpoint 2l of the wedge and distributed by the latter to thelongitudinally spaced end portions 22 on the back of the adapter, thusleaving a central relieved area. 23 the nature and purpose of which aremore fully described and claimed in my prior Patent 2,154,916, issuedApril 18, 1939. The .inclined faces I9 of the adapter Il are eachprovided with a pair of elongated longitudinally spaced openings 24which are formed as apertures or holes extending all the way throughfrom the journal side of the adapter out of the space I8.

The bearing insert IB is preferably composed of some suitable relativelysoft bearing metal,

such as bronze, on each side of the back of which are providedcomplementary positioning lugs 25 arranged in pairs at each side so asto project into corresponding openings 24 in the adapter or backingmember as shown to best advantage in Figure 3.

The openings 24 and the lugs 25 are arranged in pairs at each side ofthe crest of the bearing so that they are well removed from the regionof highest bearing load and arenot subject to the stresses which areordinarily set up in and near the crest of the bearing.

The two parts `iust described, if desired, may be held together whenassembled by means of a pair of dowel pins 28 which are introduced fromone end of the bearing into suitable longitudinally extending aperturesin the lugs 25, as shown to best advantage in Figures 3 and 4 in whichfigures the partially inserted dowels are shown in dotand-dash lines inorder to bring out this feature somewhat more clearly. When in assembledposition the mid-portion of the dowels overlies the V-shaped portions 21on the back or top surface of the sides of the adapter. During insertionthe dowels pass over similar inclined or V-shaped surfaces 28 at theouter end of the bearing. 'I'his arrangement for holding the partstogether is not essential to a realization of the advantages of theinvention because, in service, my improved bearing functions as a unitwithout the dowels. However, the dowels serve to keep the backing memberand the insert together as companionate parts when they are initiallyassembled and shipped.

The concave face of the bearing metal insert is provided ateach side ofits crest with an elonphasized by the fact .that it is desirable to keepthe lining I1 as thin as possible not only to save lead and tin but alsoto promote heat conductivity. Lead is arelatively poor conductor of heatso that the conductivity of the bearing as a whole is improved byreducing the thickness of the lining I1 and, therefore, the amount oflead through which the heat must travel. By making the slot 29 in thebearing metal insert I8 of considerable depth as shown and described, itis possible. w preserve the functions of the slot throughout the life ofthe bearing while at the same time effecting a substantial saving instrategic metals.

At this point I should also like to call attention to the fact that byaligning the lugs 25 with the slots 29 there is very little if anysurface under the lugs which contacts the surface of the journal I0.Even those portions of the bearing which lie to the outside of the slots29, under all normal running conditions, do not actually contact withthe surface of the journal due to the so-called wedge space 'whichexists at each side of a crown bearing of this type. This serves toreduce t`o a minimum the amount of heat which is developed andtransferred through the metal to the parts which cooperate in holdingthe adapter and the bearing metal insert in proper relationship duringservice.

gated slot 29 which extends throughout substantially the entire lengthof the bearing although the slots are closed at their ends. These slotsare of substantial width,v as shown.- The insert is also provided withthe customary Babbitt metal lining I1, as already mentioned, there beingopenings 30, of course, in this lining to register` with the slots 2S.

It should be noted that the slots 29, in cooperation with the openings30, constitute elongated slots which are of substantial depth as well aswidth. This is important to the proper functioning of the slotsthroughout the life of the bearing. The oil coming up on the surface ofthe journal fills the slot on the inbound side so that it acts as alubricant'reservoir. Indeed, it is important to have the slots 29 in theinsert I6 of substantial depth regardless of the possible thickness ofthe lining I1, so that the slots as a whole can function satisfactorilyeven after the lining becomes very much worn in service so that itsthickness is materially reduced. The importance of this is em- It willbe seen that my improvements make it possible to substantially reducethe amount of bearing metal or bearing metal alloy which has heretoforebeen employed in the manufacture of crown journal bearings. As a generalrule in Previous practice the entire bearing has been made of a solidpiece of brass with a lining of Babbitt metal. With my invention thebacking or adapter member I5 can be made of steel which is not onlyAless expensive but also far stronger than brass and much less subjectto damage from over-heating and mechanical stresses. In addition, whilethe insert I6 is preferably made of brass, the quantity o f brassrequired is kept at a minimum by virtue of the slots 29. Again, there isstill further saving in strategic and expensive metals or alloys sincethe Babbitt lining I1 does not extend throughout the entire journal faceof the bearing but is provided with the openings 30 in registry with theopenings 28 so that the weight of Babbitt which would ordinarily go intothe formation of a lining over the areas in question is renderedunnecessary in my improved construction.

In addition to the foregoing, my improved construction makes possibleanother important saving. In the conventional bearings known to the artwhich are generally of one piece, antimony is included as a hardener oran agent to increase the mechanical strength of the copper-lead-tinalloy customarily employed in the manufacture of bearings. With myinvention the proper degree of strength is supplied by the ferrous metaladapter I5. It will be seen, therefore, that the bearings of the priorart actually represent a compromise between bearing qualities on the onehand and strength characteristics on the other hand, whereas, with myimproved construction, the bearing ing construction of greatly increasedstrength while at the same time in no way sacrificing the advantageswhich are to be found in the employment of the so-called bearing metals.The strength and resistance to mechanical stresses and the damagingeffects of heat are realized through the fact that the adapter can bemade of steel, and the advantages incident to the use of the so-calledbearing metals through the fact that the bearing insert can be made ofsuch materials. For example, in the event that a hot box should developand the Babbitt lining I1 melt out, the bearing metal of the insert I6would come into contact with the journal I instead of the steel of theadapter I5, s'o that damage to the journal would be avoided.

With my improvements the adapter really becomes a part of the journalbox assembly in the same sense as is the usual .wedge I4, and theadapter with its bearing insert canbe readily substituted for thecustomary bearing without involving any change whatsoever in presentpractice. Furthermore, where replacements become necessary, all that isrequired is to have on hand a stock of bearing inserts which can beeasily applied to my improved adapter, as described.

In order to circulate the oil from one side to 'the other of the bearingas-in the manner described in my prior Patent 1,964,688, issued June 26,1934, the present invention makes it possible to incorporate theadvantageous features of that patent by the simple expedient ofcombining with the backing member the separable insert described, on theback of which are formed a pair of longitudinally extending channels orgrooves 3l, one at each side of the crest. These grooves areinterconnected by a circmferentially extending transverse channel orgroove 32 preferably located near one end of the bearing. A series ofsmall apertures-or openings v33 are also provided which openings connectthe upper corner portion oi each slot 29 with lt/he adjacentlongitudinal channel 3i on the back of the insert. In the embodimentshown, four holes 33 are illustrated for each side of the bearing. Whenthe insert is placed in the adapter the upper open faces of the channels3i and 32 are effectively closed so that the oil which enters the slot29 on the upbound side of the rotating journal can pass through theholes 33 into the corresponding longi- `tudinal channel 3| from which ittraverses the cross channel 32 into the other longitudinal channel 3iand then downwardly through the holes 33 into the slot 29 on `theoutbound side of the journal.

As described in my Patent 1,964,688, the vacuum created on 'the outboundside plus the tendency to build up a pressure on the inbound side causesthe oil to circulate from the inbound side to the outbound side and bedischarged on the latter side. This circulation helps to cool thebearing and insures an adequate supply of oil which is stored in thechannels 3| and 32 when the journal begins rotation after a period ofidleness. Furthermore, such circulation helps to keep both sides of thewaste 'in the journal box equally well saturated with oil so that, afterlong periods of running in one direction, there is not, as would.

otherwise happen, a tendency to accumulate the oil in that portion ofthe waste which is located on the inbound side while leaving theoutbound side somewhat dry. My invention, therefore. makes it possibleto employ cross-circulation or the type just described in an exceedinglysimple way and since the inserts are readily made as castings, notroublesome or expensive machining is necessary as has heretofore beennecessary with the invention of my Patent 1,964,688.

In conclusion, I wish to point out that my improved constructioninvolves no permanent union between the inserts and the adapter such,for example, as might be provided by pressing, keying, riveting, orotherwise permanently securing the one part to the other with the idea,of making the insert, in effect, an integral part of the backing oradapter. Composite bearings of this nature have heretofore` beenattempted with the idea of approaching as nearly as possible aconstruction which involves sucb a close union between the insert andthe backing as to make them, in effect, one inseparable memberv whichmust be treated in exactly the same way as the standard bearingscustomary in the art. My improvement involves a readily detachable orseparable bearing metal insert which is held in position by meanslocated beyond the region of high bearing loads so as to besubstantially unaiected by .the stresses set up in and near the crest ofcrown journal bearings. This avoids distortion and other difficultiesincidentito the diilerence in coeiiicient of expansion between .thebacking member and the insert.

I claim;

l. A crown journal bearing having a structural adapter or strengthmember and a separable bearing metal insert, said insert having alongitudinal slot in its journal face at each side of the crest, anaperture extending from each slot to the back of the insert, and grooveor channel means on the back of the insert interconnecting saidapertures, the open upper face of said channel means being completelycovered by said adapter whereby to provide a closed circulating passageconnecting said slots.

2. In a railway axle journal box having a wedge l with a centralload-transmitting area of substantial width anked by a downwardly facingand outwardly inclined portion at each side; a bearing adapted tocooperate with the wedge in transmitting the load to the journal, saidbearing comprising a structural adapter or strength member having aload-receiving crest portion of a width corresponding to the width ofthe central loadtransmitting area of the wedge, a, downwardly andoutwardly extending inclined portion at each side of said crest, which'inclined portions are arranged in slightly spaced relation to theadjacent inclined faces of the wedge, an opening in each of said sideportions of said adapter member opposite the adjacent inclined face ofthe wedge, a separable insert member of relatively soft bearing metal, acooperating positioning lug on the back of each side portion of theinsert in position t0 project into the opening in the adjacent sideportion of the adapter, a longitudinal slot in the journal face oi' theinsert at each side of the crest which slot is arranged in alignmentwith thelug and the opening into which it projects, a correspendinggroove on the back of each side of the insert toward the inside of thelug, an aperture extending from each of said slots through the insert tothe corresponding groove at the back,

and an additional groove on the back of the

